National cartoonist Dave Granlund's blog features his take on politics and current events -- in cartoon form

Is Leverage Ending This Season? Executive Producer Pens Open Letter

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By Dave Granlund

National cartoonist Dave Granlund's blog features his take on politics and current events. Dave has been an editorial cartoonist published in daily newspapers since 1977. Born in Ware, Mass., Granlund began drawing cartoons in grade school and at
...

National cartoonist Dave Granlund's blog features his take on politics and current events. Dave has been an editorial cartoonist published in daily newspapers since 1977. Born in Ware, Mass., Granlund began drawing cartoons in grade school and at age 16, he was published on the editorial pages of local weekly newspapers. His eight-year enlistment in the USAF included assignments with SAC HQ and with Headquarters Command, where his duties included work as head illustrator for the Presidential Inaugural Subcommittee and providing briefing charts for the White House and support for Air Force One. As part of NATO in Operation Looking Glass with the Airborne Command Post, he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal. Dave's newspaper honors include awards from UPI, New England Press Association, International Association of Business Communicators, The Associated Press and Massachusetts Press Association. His work has been nominated numerous times for the Pulitzer Prize. His pastimes and interests include history, wood carving, antique tractors and Swedish language studies.

Nate Ford and his team on Leveragehave been able to get themselves out of quite a few pickles. But will they be able to earn a sixth season? That remains unclear.

Executive producer and director Dean Devlin penned a letter to the TNT drama's longtime fans about the unknown future of the series. In the letter, Devlin explains that he and series creator John Rogers shot the upcoming Season 5 finale as the series finale of the show should it not be picked for a sixth season.

Leverage, starring Oscar winner Timothy Hutton, debuted on TNT in 2008 and is currently the longest-running original series on the network. Season 5 premiered to 3.39 million viewers in July. However, the show recently returned from a two-month hiatus to just 1.91 million viewers. In the Season 5 finale - set to air on Christmas Day - Nate (Hutton) will take a case linked to his son's death.

Read Devlin's full letter to fans below:

Dear Leverage Fans,

As of the writing of this letter, we still do not know if there will be a season six of our show. Just as we didn't know when we created the last three episodes which are about to air. Because of this uncertainty, John Rogers and I decided to end this season with the episode we had planned to make to end the series, way back when we shot the pilot. So, the episode that will air on Christmas is, in fact, the series finale we had always envisioned.

This is not to say we would not do a season six should we get the opportunity. Everyone involved with the show, from the cast, the crew, the writers and producers, would like nothing more than to continue telling these stories. But, in case we do not get that opportunity we felt that, creatively, after 77 episodes, we owed it to you, our fans, to end the show properly.

I sincerely hope you watch these last three episodes. They build to our conclusion. And the finale, I believe, is the most powerful episode we've ever done.

From all of us who make the show, thank you for watching, supporting and encouraging us. I've never experienced a fandom as intense, loyal and wonderful as you all.